Dental Implants
Tooth loss can make daily activities more challenging, such as eating, speaking or socialising. Also, untreated tooth loss can impact one's oral health and overall wellness by increasing the risk for infection, stroke, heart disease, hypertension and some types of cancer. Fortunately, modern dentistry provides numerous tooth replacement options to restore oral function and aesthetics. Ballina Coast Dental offers dental implants to patients who desire a permanent solution to tooth loss.
What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement because they are long-lasting and mimic the appearance, comfort and function of natural teeth.
Dental implants replace a missing tooth, including the root structure in the jawbone. A dental implant consists of three components: the titanium implant post, the abutment (connector) piece, and the prosthetic tooth or teeth.
The implant post is thin, biocompatible titanium, which is very strong and resistant to damage. The abutment piece connects the prosthetic tooth or teeth to the implant, and patients can have a single crown, denture, bridge or All-on-4® implants that replace all missing teeth in the upper and lower arch.
The Dental Implant Process
The dental implant process usually works in two phases.
Phase one is the implant placement phase. The dentist places the biocompatible dental implant into the jawbone. Over time, the implant and jaw integrate and stabilise. Once the gums and jawbone heal, we check the implant's stability and move on to phase two.
Phase two is the restorative phase. This is when we complete the dental implant process by securing a dental crown, bridge or denture to the implant. All prosthetic teeth are custom-made to fit the patient's unique smile, and we create precise prosthetics using digital impressions, bite records and shade selection. Our Australian lab partners fabricate the prosthetic teeth your Ballina dentist designs, ensuring the shape, shade and size perfectly match your smile.
The Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants have numerous benefits. Many of our patients appreciate the longevity, comfort and natural-looking appearance of dental implants. 
Here are some other benefits:
- Dental implants are implanted in the jawbone, so they will last your lifetime without needing replacement. The implant becomes a part of your mouth's anatomy so that it won't shift or slip in the mouth like removable dentures and other appliances. This also means no food restrictions!
- Dental implants support bone health and prevent bone loss in the jawbone. Untreated tooth loss can lead to tooth migration, additional tooth loss and bone loss. However, dental implants restore the tooth roots and stimulate the bone, thus promoting bone health.
- Dental implants support the facial muscles, prevent premature ageing and lend to a more youthful and energised facial appearance. Sometimes, tooth loss can make a person's face look saggy or sunken in, but dental implants prevent this.
- Dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth. Dental implants are the closest thing a person can get to natural teeth––in their appearance, comfort and bite power.
Dental Implant Restorations in Ballina, NSW
Are you missing teeth and desire a lifelike tooth replacement? Ballina Coast Dental offers various custom-made tooth replacement solutions, including dental implants. We invite you to contact us for a consultation to learn more about if dental implants are right for you.
We proudly serve patients in East Ballina, Skennars Head, West Ballina, South Ballina, Cumbalum, Lennox Head, Alstonville, Wardell, Evans Head, Wollongbar, Goonellabah, Bangalow, Newrybar, Tintenbar, Byron Bay and the surrounding areas.
Specials
$199 New Patient Offer
with either Dr Damaris Fernandez or Dr Rhiannon Burchall
Includes:
Comprehensive Examination
Scale and Polish
Topical Fluoride
Two x-rays (if required)
Value $406
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Frequently Asked Questions
Many people aren't born with their dream smiles. However, Ballina Coast Dental offers various treatments to help patients improve their smiles and reach their oral health and aesthetic aims. Whether you have a broken, missing or discoloured tooth, our skilled and experienced dentists are here to help.
Each of our treatments is specifically designed with the patient in mind. Our dentists customise treatments to ensure the patient's smile looks, feels and functions as naturally as possible––while meeting their preferences and complementing their appearance.
Some of the cosmetic and restorative treatments we offer include:
- Professional teeth whitening – To remove dental stains and brighten teeth
- Tooth-coloured fillings – To repair decay and maintain the natural shade of your teeth
- Invisalign clear aligners – To straighten teeth and correct imbalance bites without detracting from your smile
- Aesthetic bonding – To repair chips, cracks and fractures while maintaining your tooth's natural colour
- Veneers – To cover and correct chips, cracks, fractures, discolouration, gaps and discrepancies in size or shape
- Crowns – To conceal and protect discoloured, damaged, misshapen or decayed teeth
- Bridgework – To replace a missing tooth
- Dental implants – To permanently replace tooth roots and provide more structural stability for your teeth
At Ballina Coast Dental, we can help you discover your best smile with one or more of our cosmetic or restorative treatments. The possibilities are endless!
Would You Like to Improve Your Smile?
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, we invite you to contact our dental clinic in Ballina today. We are happy to speak with you about your options and design a treatment plan to help you reach your smile goals.
Dental implant placement involves replacing a tooth root with a biocompatible screwlike post. A dental implant can replace damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that function and look just like natural ones. Many patients and dentists prefer dental implants because they are a permanent and welcome alternative to dentures or bridgework.
The Dental Implant Process
Dental implant placement involves two main steps.
Step 1: The first step is placing the dental implant post in the jawbone. Your dentist surgically places the implant in the jawbone, and over time, the jawbone grows around the implant through a process called osseointegration. When the bone and gums heal, the implant is ready to accept the abutment (connector) piece and the artificial tooth.
Step 2: The second step involves taking digital impressions of the patient’s mouth and remaining teeth to create a realistic, artificial tooth or set of teeth. When the final restoration is ready, we place it on top of the abutment piece and implant post. The dentist will make any adjustments at this time to ensure your newly restored smile is to your satisfaction.
Because the jaw needs to heal and grow around the implant, the dental implant process can take months from start to finish. As with any treatment, the specific procedure, timeline and recovery depend on the patient’s unique case.
Realistic Dental Implants in Ballina, NSW
If you have missing teeth, we invite you to contact us about permanent dental implants in Ballina, NSW.
Our Team
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Dr Steven Htay
Dr Steven Htay (‘Steve’ to all of us here at Ballina Coast Dental) enjoys general family dentistry and gets great satisfaction from working with the patients to provide a bespoke, oral health treatment plan. His passion and interest in healthcare inspired him to pursue dentistry—a career he considers a welcome and rewarding challenge where he can provide hands-on treatment.
Steve qualified in 2000 as a dentist in the UK, where he grew up, working in both private and NHS practices. After working in both Australia and New Zealand, Steve decided to ...
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